Research Analysis on "A Modest Proposal" by Heather Mallick
The Niqab and debates around Niqab in Canada
Research Essay on A Modest Proposal
Vivek Dhanju
Centennial College
The protection of religious freedom gained attention for quite some time now, and the face veil, more precisely referred to as "the niqab" has been a hot topic. Many scholars and authors have given their point of view about the issue from time and time again. Heather Mallick in her essay "A Modest Proposal" discussed the ill-effects of wearing niqab, but does her essay addresses the topic effectively? I believe it does not. During my research on this essay, I came across few other accounts regarding same concern and I have found Gilmour 's "Niqab debate: What should Canada do?" and "Freedom of Religion and Accommodating Religious Dress in Schools" (Harris, Wendy, J. QC., Ackah, & Audrey, 2011) very interesting because of their way of addressing the topic and use of logical reasoning to support their claims.
Mallick 's extensive use of subjective opinion has made her essay "A Modest Proposal" ineffective and prejudice. For instance, She wrote, "Women in niqab look like scary black crows as they flutter along Canadian sidewalk" (2010, p. 80). Furthermore, she made a bold statement towards the end of her essay while comparing "wearing niqab" to "cutting oneself with scissors". Mallick states, "I see no difference between hurting yourself in private with scissors and hurting yourself in public by rendering yourself both scary and invisible. The second course hurts the rest of us too" (2010, p.82). In General, I think wearing niqab is hardly a self harming behaviour and this statement is more of what Mallick personally thinks about ladies who wear niqab, and not taking their views into consideration. In making assumptions about Ahmed without getting her side of the story, and in calling for all Canadian women to dress according to western convention, it might make readers think that Mallick is demonstrating prejudice toward women from the Middle
Research Essay on A Modest Proposal
Vivek Dhanju
Centennial College
The protection of religious freedom gained attention for quite some time now, and the face veil, more precisely referred to as "the niqab" has been a hot topic. Many scholars and authors have given their point of view about the issue from time and time again. Heather Mallick in her essay "A Modest Proposal" discussed the ill-effects of wearing niqab, but does her essay addresses the topic effectively? I believe it does not. During my research on this essay, I came across few other accounts regarding same concern and I have found Gilmour 's "Niqab debate: What should Canada do?" and "Freedom of Religion and Accommodating Religious Dress in Schools" (Harris, Wendy, J. QC., Ackah, & Audrey, 2011) very interesting because of their way of addressing the topic and use of logical reasoning to support their claims.
Mallick 's extensive use of subjective opinion has made her essay "A Modest Proposal" ineffective and prejudice. For instance, She wrote, "Women in niqab look like scary black crows as they flutter along Canadian sidewalk" (2010, p. 80). Furthermore, she made a bold statement towards the end of her essay while comparing "wearing niqab" to "cutting oneself with scissors". Mallick states, "I see no difference between hurting yourself in private with scissors and hurting yourself in public by rendering yourself both scary and invisible. The second course hurts the rest of us too" (2010, p.82). In General, I think wearing niqab is hardly a self harming behaviour and this statement is more of what Mallick personally thinks about ladies who wear niqab, and not taking their views into consideration. In making assumptions about Ahmed without getting her side of the story, and in calling for all Canadian women to dress according to western convention, it might make readers think that Mallick is demonstrating prejudice toward women from the Middle
References: Gilmour, M . (2010, December 17). Niqab debate: What should Canada do?. The Star. Retrieved from http://www.thestar.com/news/insight/article/909157--niqab-debate-what-should- canada-do/ Harris, Wendy, J. QC., Ackah, & Audrey. (2011).Freedom of Religion and Accommodating Religious Dress in Schools. Education Law Journal, 20. 3, 211-242. Khan, S. (2011, December 14). Hate it if you want, but don 't ban the niqab. The Globe Mail. Retrieved from http://www.theglobeandmail.com/commentary/hate-it-if-you-want-but- dont-ban-the-niqab/article4180899/ Mallick, H.(2010). A Modest Proposal. In Pearson Learning Solutions (Ed.), Effective reading and writing for COMM 170 and beyond (pp. 80-82). Toronto, Canada: Pearson Learning Solutions.